These were the most sophisticated and complex shaped shades done by Tiffany's craftsmen. The shades have both irregular upper and lower borders. In this group the typical straight edge of the top of the shade opening (aperture) is replaced by an openwork "crown" which is made to look like tree branches. The top "finials" have been also been eliminated, and light and heat are vented out through the top crown. A good example of one of the finest of these shades is the Tiffany "Wisteria" pattern lamp shade. It is one of the most sought after and valuable of all the designs Tiffany ever produced, and as with most of his floral shades, it comes in various color combinations, from beautifully and intricately cut and positioned pale pastels, to rich, deep colored hues.

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Tiffany Floor Lamp

These shades have a much more natural form, with their flowing, "serpentine" meandering rims. In this group of shades, you now can see a curved, irregular shaped lower border. Almost all of the shades used in the irregular border shade group are of the globe shape.

 

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The plainer, flowered globe shades were much more difficult and detailed in their construction than the cone shaped shades. The dome design or shape helped the artists working on those shades to create a much more realistic scene or "picture" of the floral and insect designs that were used. Globe shades can range in size from twelve inches to twenty-eight inches in diameter. They were always the choice for ceiling lamps.

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In this window the viewer looks through two grids, one suggesting panes and mullions, and the other a trellis with the dogwood in full bloom behind it. The tree seems literally to have just burst into flower, with the texture of the white and pale mauve petals given life by the rippling glass. Only a hint of a landscape is incorporated in the pale yellow-green in the lower half and the brilliant clear blue sky above.

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Tiffany Lamp Base

There are many old and new high quality reproductions and fakes around of Tiffany lamps. Many of them are so good they can fool dealers and collectors alike. Some of these have been made for more than 45 years, and continue to be made.

Stamps, signatures and other markings are often added to imitations both during and after production to give them the appearance of being the "real" thing, and only expert appraisers and collectors with a trained eye for Tiffany's distinctive style are qualified to distinguish one from the other.